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Known as the "heart of Dixie," Alabama is a southern state bordering the Gulf of Mexico and in between Georgia and Mississippi. Most of its southern border is adjacent to the Florida Panhandle. Southern Alabama includes the Gulf Coast city of Mobile, seaside resort towns and recreation areas such as state parks.

Historic Attractions

Alabama's history is intertwined with French, Spanish and English colonial conflicts along the Gulf Coast and the Civil War. In downtown Mobile, grand pre-Civil War mansions such as the antebellum Bragg-Mitchell Mansion (braggmitchellmansion.com), a masterpiece of Greek revival architecture, give visitors a glimpse into life in the area during the 1800s. The houses are open for guided tours, and the Mobile Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau sponsors an annual Historic Homes tea. Other historic attractions in Mobile include USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park (ussalabama.com), where visitors can tour a World War II battleship and submarine plus other military aircraft and artillery vehicles. Off the coast, visitors can take a ferry to Dauphin Island to view the site of Fort Gaines, which dates to the 16th century when French explorers claimed the island. The fort was the site of several battles before the War of 1812.

Parks and Camping

Several parks in southern Alabama provide visitors with a wide range of outdoor recreation activities, including camping, freshwater fishing, hiking and waterskiing. Inland parks above the Florida Panhandle include Chattahoochee, Florala and Frank Jackson. These parks are known as excellent fishing destinations. The state record for catching shell cracker was set at Chattahoochee. Florala is on the Florida/Alabama state line and has a 500-acre lake and a lakeside campground. Frank Jackson has a 1,000-acre lake and a campground with modern amenities such as Wi-Fi. On the coast, visitors who trek to Dauphin Island can camp near white-sand beaches on the picturesque island. The island's only campground has 150 sites and includes electricity, water, a laundry facility, showers and a playground.

Beachfront Recreation

Alabama's sugar-white sand beaches stretch from the Gulf Shores area to Mississippi. Piers and fishing areas all along the coasts give visitors the chance to catch redfish, trout, flounder, mackerel, crabs and shark. In Gulf Shores, anglers can try their luck from an 825-foot fishing pier. In Daphne, you can take a leisurely stroll along a boardwalk, rest at a gazebo and go fishing at Bayfront Park. Golfers can also enjoy ocean views while playing. There are nine golf courses within driving distance of each other in the Gulf Shores area. Further west on Dauphin Island, visitors can also golf next the shore at an 18-hole course at the Isle Dauphine Golf Club.

Arts and Entertainment

While New Orleans may be known as the home of American Mardi Gras festivities, the nation's first African-American Mardi Gras took place in Mobile. Each year in February, the city is revved up as parades, music and costumed revelers take over downtown Mobile for America's Family Mardi Gras. For opera aficionados, the Mobile Opera (mobileopera.org) showcases full productions as well as youth programming. The Mobile Symphony (mobilesymphony.org) performs works of classical and contemporary artists. The Mobile Museum of Art (mobilemuseumofart.com) is a state-of-the-art facility and is the largest museum on the Gulf Coast from Tampa to New Orleans. Its collection and exhibitions feature art, photography and artifacts from a many periods.

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About the Author

Lauren Miller has more than 10 years of experience as a writer and editor. Her articles on technology, small business and legal topics have appeared in magazines, newspapers and trade journals. She has a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and is an avid gardener and sports fan.